Ten Things You Need to Know Today: Tuesday 20 Dec 2011

1. MPS SLAM 'COSY' HMRC TAX DEAL

A committee of MPs has criticised "unduly cosy" deals between HM Revenue & Customs and large firms over £25bn worth of unpaid tax. The Public Accounts Committee expressed "serious concerns" that while small firms are aggressively chased for tax, HMRC appears to have taken a gentler line with large corporations.

We don't cut 'cosy' deals with big business, say taxmen

2. US TO N KOREA: TAKE 'PATH OF PEACE'

The United States has urged North Korea to pursue a "path of peace" following the death of leader Kim Jong-il. Secretary of State Hillary Clinton says the US is ready to help steer the peninsula to a peaceful and stable future. Barack Obama has spoken with President Lee of South Korea and other regional neighbours.

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French doctor secretly treated Kim Jong-il for a stroke

3. MAN GUILTY OF BURYING FIANCEE ALIVE

A man has been found guilty of the attempted murder of his fiancée who he buried alive in a cardboard box because he was "bored" with her. Michelina Lewandowska escaped from the grave in woods near Huddersfield after her partner, Marcin Kasprzak, attacked her with a stun gun and buried her.

4. BRADLEY MANNING'S EMAILS WITH ASSANGE

Prosecutors have told the Bradley Manning hearing they found email correspondence between WikiLeaks defendant Manning and Julian Assange, the head of the whistle-blowing website. Manning is said to have told Assange he hoped to 'remove the fog of war' by leaking reports on the Iraq and Afghanistan operations.

5. JEREMY CLARKSON FACES OFCOM PROBE

Jeremy Clarkson is under investigation by broadcasting regulator Ofcom for his comment on a BBC television programme that striking workers "should be shot". Ofcom received 763 complaints and the BBC another 32,000 over Clarkson's outburst during an appearance on The One Show last month.

6. UNIONS AGREE TERMS OF PENSION DEAL

A breakthrough in the dispute over public sector pensions has been reached as union bosses representing health, civil service and local government staff agreed terms of a deal to put to their members. The unions have suspended strike action while the offer is considered. Talks with education unions continue in 2012.

7. NI 'BLAGGED' FERGIE MEDICAL RECORDS

Alex Ferguson's medical records were obtained through 'blagging' by the News of the World, the Leveson Inquiry heard yesterday. A journalist said the Old Trafford boss became more co-operative after the paper agreed not to publish his records. Meanwhile, Piers Morgan is due before the inquiry today.

How tabloid blagged Alex Ferguson's medical records

8. TOP FIRMS FUND PIRACY WEBSITES

Dozens of 'blue-chip' companies including Tesco, BT and easyJet are inadvertently funding the piracy industry by advertising on websites offering illegal downloads of films and television programmes. The Federation Against Copyright Theft says these websites cost the British film industry £200 million a year.

9. MILITARY WIVES WALK ALL OVER LITTLE MIX

The Military Wives choir look certain to take the Christmas No. 1 spot after their song, Wherever You Are, became the fastest-selling single in six years. Two days after its release, the tune is outselling Cannonball, by X-Factor winners Little Mix, by 6:1.

10. HOT TICKET: TIM KEY’S MASTERSLUT

Edinburgh Comedy Award winner Tim Key brings his unique brand of stand-up to the Soho Theatre. His genre-crossing performance mixes off-beat poetry with erotic playing cards, jokes and bathtub readings. Time Out calls his show “subtle, shambolic… gloriously funny”. Until 7 January.